right now...

i had a whole post planned for updates to my party planning skillzzzz...
what all i was doing
what i was crafting
what mv was helping with
how everything was coming along swimmingly

then, i had some time to breathe.

we have a routine around here.
quiet time and projects before the boys wake up.
morning jog in the stroller.
breakfast.
spanish lessons.
swimming practice with mv while j naps in the shade.
home for lunch.
outside to do our craft-of-the-day.  (we are trying to do one a day for the summer!)
naps all around.
up for brothers' alone play while mama cooks dinner.
daddy home (hopefully!) to review our flashcards and wrestle on the floor.
books while cuddling on the couch.
bedtime for the boys.
quality time with my husband and/or a glass of wine.
it might seem strange to some, but we love, love our summer routine.

so, today, when daddy got the morning off (he's been working till the am hours all week), he offered to take mv to the pool instead.  mv was thrilled, of course, and while baby j slept, i thought i could knock out a few lingering projects.

instead, i had a moment to relax and breathe and make apple crumble bread.
and just think.
think about my life and our life and listen to music and smell heavenly bread bake (is there anything better?) and appreciate this precious time that God has given us.
i walked around the house and snapped pictures that epitomize what our life is right now.
and i remembered how unbelievably grateful i am for it.

his and her sides of the table.

complete with un-ironed tablecloth, of course.

dinosaurs are always part of play.

and mama is redoing the lampshades.

classical music on all day to inspire little minds.

a need to dust.  ....but that can wait.

a solo solider in some sort of defense position, i'm sure.

a bed still tousled from this morning's wrestling with the boys, rejoicing that daddy was home.

a craft closet that has exploded from all the projects this summer.

(big sigh.  i see an entire day of straightening.)

and, of course, mama's alone time to bake slowly and pour love into apple bread.